Grapple



D. W. OSMUN Aug. 8, 1950 GRAPPLE Filed Oct. 50, 1947 Patented Aug. 8, 1950 v UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE r.

f." 2,518,430 GRAPP LE bean W. Osman, Houston, Tex.

Application October 30, ran, Serial No, 783,135

. l Claims.

' Thisinvention relates to a grapple.

An object of the invention is to provide a grapple of the character described which is readily insertable into a pipe stuck in a well bore and by hangs on the upper end of the pipe thus interfering with theinsertion of the tool into the pipe and causing injury to the grappling member. The invention herein disclosed embodies a novel type of grappling member to avoid the objections abovepointed out.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the following specification which is illustrated by the accompanying drawings, wherein: Figure 1 is an elevational view of the grapple shown partlyxin section.

Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 2.2 of'Figure 1.

' Figure 3 is an elevational view'of the grapple takenat right angles tothe view shown in Figure 1.. and showing the grapplein engagement with the stuck pipe and Figure 4' is a fragmentary, side elevation of the grapple.

Referring now more particularlyto the drawlugs-wherein like numerals of reference designate the same parts in each of the figuresthc numeral I designates the mandrel as a whole. The upper end of this mandrel is reduced forming an X- ternal spiralled face 2 and is externally enlarged above said face 2 to form the annular external Shoulder 3 adapted to engage the upper end of the stuck pipe 4 upon the entrance of the grapple into the pipe.

Screwed into the lower end of the mandrel is a guide 5 whose lower end is provided with an outlet passageway 6 for fluid and whose upper end has a downwardly and inwardly converging annular face 1.

Between the shoulder 2 and the guide 5 the mandrel is provided with the external spiralled downwardly flared face 8. As shown this face is spiralled to the left. The upper margin of the spiralled face 8 terminates in an undercut groove 9 which is also spiralled to the left, as shown in v 2 Figure 1. The mandrel is of tubular formation ghaving a central fluid passageway It there through through which washing fluid may be forced if desired from the operating stem to which the grapple is attached.

On the mandrel there is a sleeve-like grappling member 12. This grappling member has a single slot l3 cut therein from end to end, as shown in Figure 2, so that the grappling member will be bontractile throughout. The lower end of the grappling member I2 is reduced in diameter and formed into a guide 14 through which the slot l3 also extends and the lower end of the guide is provided with a downwardly and inwardly tapering face I5 which readily guides the grappling member into the upper end of the stuck pipe 4 so that there will be no liability of the grappling member hanging on the upper end of the stuck pipe.

In tools of this type it has been the practiceto slot the grappling member from opposite ends, the slots leading from one end of the grappling member terminating near the opposite end thereof; but in use it has been found that this type of grappling member is too resilient and it is more liable to hang on the upper end of the stuck pipe than the type of grappling member disclosed herein. The grappling member I2 has the inside, spiralled downwardly flared face It which conforms to the taper of and rides against the c0rresponding face 8 of the mandrel. The spiralled face l6 terminates at its upper margin in the spiralled rib I! which conforms in shape to, and which is adapted toenter, the groove 9 when the grappling member is contracted.

' The downwardlyand inwardly taperingfaee I5, 'at the lower end of the guide l4 rides against the face 1 to contract the lower end of the grapple.

In use the mandrel may be turned torthe left relative to the grappling member to run said grappling member up on the mandrel to the position shown in Figure 4. The spiralled face .2 terminates in a vertically elongated shoulder Ila, and the grappling member has an upstanding stop Is at its upper end arranged to engage the shoulder Ila, as shown in Figure 4, to prevent the upper end of the grappling member from becoming screwed up too tightly against the face 2 to prevent its ready release therefrom. The grapple may now be run into the well and will be guided by the guide 5 into the upper end of the pipe 4 to be pulled.

With the grappling member in expanded position the guide It will readily guide it into the pipe 4 without hanging on the upper end thereof and the outer toothed surface of the grappling member will frictionally engage the pipe 4 but will readil enter the same.

Upon an upward pull on the operating string to which the grapple is attached the spiralled tapering face of the mandrel will ride up against the inside tapering face l6 of the grappling member and will expand said grappling member into secure engagement with the pipe to be pulled.

A further upward pull exerted through the operating string may result in the withdrawal of the stuck pipe. If it does not the mandrel may be turned to the right and caused to move upwardly relative to the grappling member carrying the flared face 1 into contact with the tapering face l of the grappling member thus contracting the lower end of the grappling member, as shown in Figure 1, and at the same time the rib I! will seat in the undercut groove 9 of the mandrel thus causing a contraction of the grappling member from end to end.

While so contracted the grappling member will frictionally engage the inner surface of the pipe 4 but lightly and a continued rotation of the mandrel to the right while being pulled upwardly will cause the releas of the tool from the pipe.

If it be desired to reengage the tool with the pipe it may be lowered into the pipe and turned to the left, the friction of the grappling member with the pipe holding said grappling member stationary until the mandrel is run down again to the position shown in Figure 4 whereupon an upward pull will cause the grappling member to again securely engage the pipe to be pulled.

The drawings and description disclose what is now considered to be a preferred form of the invention by way of illustration only while the broad principle of the invention will be defined by the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A pipe grapple comprising, a mandrel having a tapering face, a sleeve-like expansible grappling member thereon of a general cylindrical contour and having a tapering face arranged to fit the face on the mandrel, the lower end of the grappling member being reduced in diameter forming a guide whose lower end is formed with an annular downwardly and inwardly tapering face, a guide on the lower end of the mandrel and whose upper end is formed with an annular downwardly and inwardly tapering face, said grappling member having a single longitudinal slot extending entirely from end to end of said grappling member and guide thereon to render said member and guide contractile, said annular faces being arranged to contract the lower end of the grappling member when said faces are drawn into contact.

. '2. A pipe grapple comprising, a mandrel hav ing a helical, tapering face, a sleeve-like expansible grappling member, thereon of a general cy render lindrical contour and having a helical tapering face arranged to fit the face on the mandrel, the lower end of the grappling member being reduced in diameter forming a guide whose lower end is formed with an annular downwardly and inwardly tapering face, a guide on the lower end of the mandrel and whose upper end is formed with an annular downwardly and inwardly tapering face, said grappling member having a single longitudinal slot extending entirely from end to end of said grappling member and the guid thereon to said member and guide contractile throughout their entire length, said annular faces being arranged to contract the lower end of the grappling member when said faces are drawn into contact.

3. A pipe grapple comprising, a mandrel having a tapering face, a sleeve-like expansible grappling member thereon of a general cylindrical contour and. having a tapering'face arranged to fit the face on the mandrel; the lower end of the grappling member being reduced in diameter forming a guide whose lower end is formed with an annular downwardly and inwardly tapering face, a guide on the lower end of th mandrel and whose upper end is formed with an annular downwardly and inwardly tapering face, said guide on the grappling member having a single longitudinal slot which continues on through said grappling member to render said guide and member contractile throughout their entire length.

4. A pipe grapple comprising, a mandrel, a sleeve-like expansible grappling member thereon of a general cylindrical contour, means for expanding the grappling member upon longitudinal movement thereof relative to the mandrel, on one direction, the lower end of the grappling member being reduced in diameter forming a guide whose lower end is formed with an annular downwardly and inwardly tapering face, a guide on the lower end of the mandrel and whose upper end is formed with an annular downwardly and inwardly tapering face, said grappling member having a single longitudinal slot extending from REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

STATES PATENTS 0 Number Name Date 2,123,791 Neilson .July 12, 1938 Osmun et a1. Dec.. 26, 1939 

